Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-05-06
sHFPHERISIOWN W. VA, FRIDAY, MAY g. 1887

the forerunner Of death. Ii is harmless
unless annoyed, when it will show
fight.
or grasshoppers and locusts there are
so many sorts. from those that are six
inches long and armor-plated like a
small iron. clad, to little wee things hard
Y nerceptible. All of them, however,
re terribly destructive to vegetation.
Moths and butterflies are innumerable,
some of them are very beautiful as they
flash among the flowers in the bright
African sunlight, while others are of
more somber hue. We must not forget
the destructive fish moth, who finds out
all woolen garments and to your utter
lismay, when cold snap comes on and
you think that you have nice warm
garment to put on, giving it shake to
dislodge the spiders, scorpions and other
lisagreeable tenants who like to take up
their abode in all put-away clothing. to
find il fly off in dust, and instead Of what
you expected you have IA fine lace-work
article, useless even il ornamental.
Spiders there are, from those as large rs
a pigeons egg TO the smallest conceiva-
ble size, venomous and terrible in their
bites. lurking in all SORTS of hidden
places. Scorpions are plentiful and poi
sonous. Centipedes are found every
where.
The largest and most dangerous, al
though not the most numerous, reptile
I'm Africa is the crocodile. Infesting
the banks of the numerous rivers aud
lagoons, he lies in wait for his prey,
and seizes on cattle, deer and human
beings. His favorlte repast, however,
is dog. II one is bowling or barking
in the neighborhood the crocodile Is
alert and on the lookout for him, and,
il he is caught, short work Is made OF
him. Resembling the crocodile In ap-
pearance, although in miniature, is the
iguana. n harmless reptile, which, how
ever, is death to snakes. This reptile
lives In holes la trees and Is rather
pretty in color. Next come the lizards,
plentiful and harmless; then the cha
meleou, changing his color to that OF the
object on which he may be resting. IL
is quite the thing in Africa to keep one
or two on suspended branch of tree
in your room, as they deyour an i'm
mense number of flies and are useful in
that way. Whenannoyed the chameleon
will utter short bark and spit at his
assailant.
The most dangerous AMI most plenti-
ful pests of this country are the many
species of snakes. First in size comes
the python or boa constructor, although
not attaining the immense size OF his
South American congener, he is a fellow
to keep away from. This snake is found
mostly in the low country adjoining the
coast and particularly OH the sugar es-
tates. II grows to length of iifteen or
eighteen feet, but is not considered very
dangerous. Then we have the tribe OF
nimalnbas, black, brown, aud green.
These snakes will not only show fight
to IL man, but will pursue him even II
mounted. In attacking they rear them
selves up, and a snake six feet In length
will carry its head four feet from the
ground, waving it from side TO side and
travelling as fast as horse can run.
Their bite is sure and sudden death.
The cobra is another dangerous snake,
lying concealed and striking when least
expected. The cobra's bite is deadly.